High court race overshadows competition for 2 lower courts

The crowded nomination battles for Pennsylvania's highest court are attracting more attention, but Democratic races are underway for one open seat each on the Superior and Commonwealth courts:

SUPERIOR COURT

The Superior Court handles criminal and most civil appeals of cases from the county courts, while the Commonwealth Court processes civil cases brought against or by the state government and decides appeals from county courts in cases involving state and local agencies.

The Superior Court contest pits Judge Robert Colville, a 15-year veteran of the Allegheny County bench who has vowed not to accept any outside money in his campaign, against Philadelphia Judge Alice Beck Dubow, whose campaign emphasizes her more extensive experience as a lawyer.

Colville also is a judge on the statewide Court of Judicial Discipline, which adjudicates cases involving judges charged with misconduct. When he launched his campaign in March, he said that he would limit his campaign spending to incidental expenses that he would pay out of his own pocket.

Colville, 49, said the growing role of money in judicial campaigns exceeded "my personal comfort level as a candidate." The judiciary in particular should be free from even the appearance of influence by special interests, he said.

He said this week he has spent about $7,000 so far, largely on transportation, and that he's been pleased by the number of politically active people who have been supportive.

"I hope people care about it, but it's not the reason I'm asking people to vote for me," he said. "If the way I'm running draws some attention to who I am, I'm all for it."

Dubow, 56, whose mother was the first woman elected to the Superior Court, has raised $335,000 for her campaign and plans to air a TV ad before Tuesday's primary, said spokesman Rob Borski.

"I'm raising money so I can communicate with voters," Dubow said this week. "I want people to know who I am."

Dubow, a Philadelphia judge since 2007, said her 23 years as a lawyer provided diverse experience that has helped her as a trial judge. Colville was elected as a judge eight years out of law school.